スキー用ワックスのトライボロジー

抄録

Ski wax plays an important role to improve the skiing performance. The following three functions are required for the high-performance wax: high water-repellency, low friction, and high durability. Fluorinated waxes have high water-repellent and low frictional properties; however, they are less durable. Therefore, first the high affinity paraffin is waxed to a ski running surface (ski sole) made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, then the fluorinated paraffin is over-waxed, by using a hot iron. Each wax performance especially depends on the temperature, thus the accurate measurements have been made to evaluate the absolute temperature at the interface between sole and snow during skiing. As a result, the temperature increase due to frictional heating actually depended on the type of wax.